Sheffield United and Crewe Alexandra have faced each other in every Football League Division, with of course the exception of top flight status. Our first ever meetings came in the Second Division during the 1892-93 season, at that time there were only two Divisions in English Football and United excelled at the first hurdle, beating the 'Alex' 4-0 in both ties home and away and having played out a Test Match against Accrington and winning 1-0 the Blades were promoted to the top flight - United won a Play-Off Final (at the City Ground, Nottingham Forest) and were the first club in the World to be promoted!
United and Crewe had to wait another 88 years until they met again (1981-82) in the Fourth Division where a similar score-line was played out, United winning 4-0 at Gresty Road and a 3-2 win at Bramall Lane. In the 11 matches played at the Lane our opponents have never tasted victory here once.
Last season it was Crewe who got the upper hand on Sheffield United, they drew 3-3 in S2 before winning by a single goal in Cheshire later on in the season. 'Nick Blackman's 10th strike of the season preserved Sheffield United's unbeaten home record after Crewe had come from two goals behind to lead in an entertaining 3-3 draw at Bramall Lane. Shaun Miller edged the Blades ahead after three minutes with a fortuitous finish off his shoulder from Blackman's cross before Harry Maguire headed in unmarked on the half-hour mark from another Blackman delivery.
Crewe halved the deficit three minutes before the interval when defender Mark Ellis hooked the ball over Blades goalkeeper George Long after Alex captain Luke Murphy had rattled the crossbar from 25 yards. And the visitors were level three minutes later when Mathias Pogba slotted his fifth league goal of the campaign from close range after goalkeeper Long had flapped at Murphy's free-kick. Chuks Aneke side-footed in Byron Moore's cross two minutes into the second period to put Alex ahead, but Blackman levelled almost immediately after Miller's shot came back off the right-hand upright.
Lauri Dalla Valle almost put Crewe back in front in the 65th minute, but his finish flew the wrong side of the post while the lively Blackman was denied a penalty after he appeared to be barged in the box.'
Following the dismissal of Danny Wilson under-21 coach Chris Morgan was left in temporary charge of proceedings. He fielded an experimental side at Gresty Road knowing that automatic promotion was out of the equation – making five changes from the side which lost 3-0 at Portsmouth the weekend previous and Chuks Aneke settled the game four minutes into the second half.
Statistics.
| @ Bramall Lane P: 11 W: 8 D: 3 L: 0 GF: 24 GA: 5 Win %: 72% |
@ Gresty Road P: 12 W: 6 D: 2 L: 4 GF: 20 GA: 15 Win %: 50% |
Total P: 23 W: 14 D: 5 L: 4 GF: 44 GA: 20 Win %: 60% |
Past Results.
1892/93 - Division 2
18 Mar - Blades 4 Crewe Alexandra 0
12 Apr - Crewe Alexandra 0 Blades 4
1947/48
10 Jan - Crewe Alexandra 3 Blades 1 - FAC
1981/82 - Division 4
29 Sep - Blades 4 Crewe Alexandra 0
01 May - Crewe Alexandra 2 Blades 3
1997/98 - Division 1
29 Nov - Blades 1 Crewe Alexandra 0
30 Apr - Crewe Alexandra 2 Blades 1
1998/99 - Division 1
31 Aug - Blades 3 Crewe Alexandra 1
30 Jan - Crewe Alexandra 1 Blades 2
1999/00 - Division 1
09 Oct - Crewe Alexandra 1 Blades 0
24 Apr - Blades 1 Crewe Alexandra 1
2000/01 - Division 1
14 Oct - Blades 1 Crewe Alexandra 0
06 Mar - Crewe Alexandra 1 Blades 0
2001/02 - Division 1
27 Oct - Blades 1 Crewe Alexandra 0
30 Mar - Crewe Alexandra 2 Blades 2
2003/04 - Division 1
04 Nov - Blades 2 Crewe Alexandra 0
24 Feb - Crewe Alexandra 0 Blades 1
2004/05 - Championship
29 Oct - Crewe Alexandra 2 Blades 3
08 Mar - Blades 4 Crewe Alexandra 0
2005/06 - Championship
29 Aug - Crewe Alexandra 1 Blades 3
03 Mar - Blades 0 Crewe Alexandra 0
2012/13 - League 1
20 Nov - Blades 3 Crewe Alexandra 3
23 Apr - Crewe Alexandra 1 Blades 0